THE HIERATIKON
OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT
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The prayers of the Divine Liturgy are from the ORTHODOX LITURGY by the Holy Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex, but with changes in places.
Take note, that the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated only ten times in the year: on the five Sundays of Great Lent [but not on Palm Sunday], on Holy and Great Thursday, On Holy and Great Saturday, on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ [Christmas Eve], on the Eve of Theophany and on St. Basil’s day [1st January]. If the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated with Vespers, the Priest shall say, “Blessed is the kingdom of the Father...” and the Reader shall read the introductory Psalm 103 [104]. Vespers shall be sung as usual according to the typikon up to the readings from the Old Testament. After the readings, the Priest [or Deacon] shall say, “Let us pray unto the Lord.” And then the Priest shall say, “For Thou our God art Holy and to Thee we ascribe glory...” and here beginneth The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil with the readings of the Apostle and Gospel and the rest of the Liturgy as usual. DEACON: Master, give the blessing.
The Priest making with the Gospel book the sign of the Cross over the antiminsion shall say: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON In peace let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition For the peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray unto the Lord. For the peace and union of the whole world, and for the good estate of the holy churches of God, let us pray unto the Lord. For this holy temple and for them that enter therein with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray unto the Lord. For our Archbishop [Name], for the honourable order of priesthood, and for the diaconate which is in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray unto the Lord. For this city [village, monastery]; for every city and land, and for them that dwell therein with faith, let us pray unto the Lord. For fair seasons and the abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray unto the Lord. For them that travel by land, by water, by air; for the sick and the suffering, For those in captivity, And for their salvation, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON PRIEST O Lord our God, whose might is ineffable; whose glory passeth all understanding; whose mercy is infinite; whose love toward mankind is beyond utterance: do Thou, O Sovereign Lord, of Thy compassion look down upon us, and upon this holy temple; and bestow upon us, and upon them that now make their supplications with us, Thy bountiful goodness and mercy. For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. At the beginning of the first antiphon, the Deacon shall bow himself and go from his place to stand before the Icon of Christ. When the antiphon is done, he returneth to his accustomed place to begin the Short Litany.
DEACON Again and again in peace, let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
THE PRAYER OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON PRIEST O Lord our God, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Preserve the fullness of Thy Church. Sanctify them that love the habitation of Thy house. Do Thou by Thy divine power exalt them unto glory; and forsake us not who put our trust in Thee. For Thine is the might, and Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. Again while the second antiphon is being sung, the Deacon shall go to stand before the Icon of the Mother of God. When the hymn “O only-begotten Son” is sung he returneth to his accustomed place and says again the Short Litany. Again and again in peace, let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. The Deacon shall now enter the sanctuary by the south door.
THE PRAYER OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON PRIEST O Thou who hast given us grace with one accord to make our common supplications unto Thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in Thy name Thou wilt grant their request: fulfil now, O Lord, the petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. For Thou, O God, art good and loving-kind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. As the choir sing the “Glory” of the Beatitudes or the third antiphon, the Priest and the Deacon standing before the Holy Altar shall bow themselves thrice. The Priest shall then take the Gospel Book and give it to the Deacon, who shall kiss the Priest’s right hand, and they shall pass behind the Altar and go out at the north side, preceded by lighted candles, to make the Little Entrance. And standing in their customary places both shall bow their heads, and the Deacon shall say: Let us pray unto the Lord. Kyrie eleison. And the Priest shall say the Prayer of the Little Entrance. O Master and Lord our God, who stablished the heavenly orders and hosts of angels and archangels to minister unto Thy glory: Grant that the holy angels may enter with our entrance, to minister with us, and with us to glorify Thy goodness. For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. DEACON: Bless master, the holy entrance. And the Priest giving the benediction with his right hand shall say: Blessed is the entrance into the holiest, always, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Then the Deacon having held up the Gospel Book for the Priest to kiss, shall stand in front of the Priest and raise his hands somewhat and shew the Holy Gospel, and making the sign of the Cross with it shall cry in a loud voice: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. And as the choir begin the entrance hymn they shall both bow their heads and the Deacon shall lead the Priest into the Sanctuary where he shall lay the Gospel Book upon the Altar. [If the Liturgy is officiated by a bishop and priest or by two or more priests, the entrance hymn is customarily sung by the clergy before entering the sanctuary and the last line “who sing to Thee: Alleluia” is sung by the choir. On entering the sanctuary they shall also sing the first apolytikion and the kontakion.] [See RESURRECTION HYMNS, TROPARIA AND KONTAKIA OF THE GREAT FEASTS, and APOLYTIKIA FOR SAINTS]. And while the choir sing the apolytikia hymns the Priest shall say the Prayer of the Thriceholy hymn in a low voice.
PRAYER OF THE THRICEHOLY O Holy God, who restest in the holies; unto whom the seraphim sing the thriceholy song; whom the cherubim glorify, and all the heavenly hosts adore; who didst bring into being all that exists; who didst create man in Thine image and likeness, and didst adorn him with Thine every gift; who givest wisdom and understanding to him that asketh, and art not wroth with the sinner, but dost grant repentance to salvation; who hast deemed us, Thine humble and unmeritable servants, worthy at this hour to stand before the glory of Thy Holy Altar, to bring unto Thee rightful worship and praise: accept, O Master, from the mouths of us sinners the thriceholy hymn, and visit us with Thy goodness. Pardon our offences, voluntary and involuntary. Sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant us to serve Thee in holiness, all the days of our life. By the prayers of the Mother of God, and of all the saints, which have been well pleasing unto Thee since the world began.
The choir having sung the kontakion, the Deacon shall say: Let us pray unto the Lord.
PRIEST For Thou our God art holy, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and for ever. DEACON: And world without end. While the choir sing the thriceholy hymn, the Priest and the Deacon repeat the thriceholy secretly and together bow themselves thrice before the Holy Altar. [If the Liturgy is celebrated by two or more priests then the thriceholy is sung five times before the “Glory… and now…” on this wise: First by the right choir, second by the left, third by the clergy, fourth by the right, fifth by the clergy, Glory by the left, now by the right Holy and Immortal by the left, and the Power by the right]. After the choir has sung the “Glory… and Now…” of the thriceholy, the Deacon facing the people shall cry aloud: Power. And immediately after shall say to the Priest: Master, give the command. And they shall proceed toward the throne, the Priest saying as he goes: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. DEACON: Bless, Master, the throne on high. PRIEST Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy kingdom, that sittest upon the cherubim; always, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. And after the conclusion of the thriceholy, the Deacon shall come before the Holy Doors and when the reader has read the first line of the prokhimenon of the Apostle reading, he shall say: Let us give heed. And when the reader has read the second line: Wisdom. And when he has announced which Apostolic reading is to be read: Let us give heed. And on completion of the Apostolic reading the Priest shall bless the reader saying: Peace unto thee [that readest]. During the singing of the Alleluia the Deacon shall take up the censer with the incense and approaching the Priest shall say: Master, bless the incense. PRIEST Blessed is our God always, now and for ever: world without end. And whilst the Deacon censes in the customary way, the Priest standing before the Holy Altar shall say in a low voice: THE PRAYER OF THE GOSPEL O Lord and lover of mankind: make the imperishable light of Thy divine knowledge to shine in our hearts; and open the eyes of our understanding that we may apprehend the preaching of Thy Gospel. Implant in us likewise awe of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling under feet all the lusts of the flesh we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing always such things as are pleasing in Thy sight. For Thou art the enlightening of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
The Deacon having put aside the censer shall come to the Priest and bowing his head shall say: Bless, Master, the herald of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist [Name]. The Priest signing him with the sign of the Cross shall say: May God through the prayers of the holy and all-glorious Apostle and Evangelist [Name] grant thee to preach the word with much power, unto the fulfilling of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And he shall give the Book to the Deacon who shall say Amen and kiss the Gospel Book and the Priest’s right hand and shall then step forth through the Holy Doors, preceded by lighted candles and go to the customary place. Then the Priest standing before the Holy Altar facing toward the west shall say: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace unto all.
DEACON The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. [Name]
PRIEST Let us give heed. And after the reading of the Gospel the Priest shall bless the Deacon saying: Peace unto thee [that dost preach the good tidings]. Then the Deacon shall go to the Holy Doors and shall deliver the Book to the Priest who shall kiss it and make with it the sign of the Cross blessing the people before placing it upon the Holy Altar. Then the Deacon standing in his accustomed place shall say the following petitions: Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] And after each petition O Almighty Lord, God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hear us and have mercy. Have mercy upon us, O God, after Thy great goodness. We pray Thee, hear us and have mercy. Again we pray for our Archbishop [Name], and for all our brethren in Christ. Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of the sins of the servants of God, [Names] (and) all the pious Orthodox Christians who dwell or visit this city [town, village, monastery], the parishioners, the Church committee, those who give help and those who have dedicated gifts in this holy temple. Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy Church [monastery] and for all our departed fathers, brethren, and Orthodox Christians everywhere who have fallen asleep. If there be a commemoration of them that are fallen asleep the deacon may also say: Again we pray for the repose of the soul[s] of the departed servant[s] of God [Name(s)], and for the forgiveness of his [her, their] every transgression, voluntary and involuntary. Again we pray for them that strive and bring forth the fruit of good works in this holy and venerable temple; for them that serve, and them that sing; and for all the people here present who await Thy great and bountiful mercy.
PRIEST O Lord our God, accept this fervent supplication from Thy servants, and have mercy upon us according unto the multitude of Thy mercies; and send down Thy compassions upon us and upon all Thy people who await Thy great and bountiful mercy. For Thou art a merciful God, and a lover of mankind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
DEACON Catechumens, pray ye unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition Let us, the faithful, pray for the catechumens. That the Lord may have mercy upon them. That He may instruct them in the word of truth. That He may reveal unto them the gospel of righteousness. That He may unite them to His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Save, have mercy, help and preserve them, O God, by Thy grace. Catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord.
THE PRAYER FOR THE CATECHUMENS PRIEST O Lord our God that dwellest in the heavens, and keepest watch over all Thy works: look down upon Thy servants the catechumens, who have bowed their heads before Thee, and give them Thine easy yoke. Make them honourable members of Thy holy Church; and deem them worthy of the washing of regeneration, of the remission of sins, and the garment of incorruption, unto knowledge of Thee, our true God That they also with us may glorify Thy sublime and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
The Priest unfolds the antiminsion.
DEACON As many as are catechumens depart: catechumens depart: as many as are catechumens depart: let not any of the catechumens remain. As many as are faithful, Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Wisdom.
FIRST PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL PRIEST Thou, O Lord, hast made known unto us this great mystery of salvation: Thou hast counted us, Thine humble and unmeritable servants, worthy to be ministers of Thy sacred altar. Do Thou, through the power of the Holy Spirit, make us able for this ministry, that standing without condemnation before Thy holy glory we may offer unto Thee the sacrifice of praise; for Thou it is which workest all in all. Grant, O Lord, that this our sacrifice may be acceptable unto Thee, both for our sins and for the errors of the people, and well-pleasing to Thee. For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
DEACON Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Wisdom.
SECOND PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL PRIEST O God who with loving-kindness and tender mercies hast visited our lowly estate; who hast set us, Thy humble, sinful and unworthy servants, before Thy holy glory to minister at Thy sacred altar: do Thou through the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen us for this ministry, and give us utterance that our mouths may be opened to invoke the grace of Thy Holy Spirit upon the gifts that we would lay before Thee. That being ever guarded by Thy might we may give glory to Thee, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
Then during the singing of the Cherubicon, the Priest bowing his head shall say the following prayer on behalf of himself.
THE PRAYER OF THE CHERUBICON None is worthy among them that are held fast in fleshly desires and pleasures to approach, or to draw nigh, or to minister unto Thee, O King of glory, for to minister unto Thee is a great and fearful thing, even for the heavenly powers themselves. Notwithstanding, through Thine ineffable and immeasurable love for mankind, Thou didst become man suffering no change or altering, and art become our High Priest and hast Thyself bestowed upon us the ministry of this divine office and Bloodless sacrifice as Master of all. For Thou only, O Lord our God, hast dominion over all things in heaven and on earth, who art borne upon a throne of cherubim, who art Lord of the seraphim and king of Israel; who alone art Holy and dost rest in the holies. Therefore, I beseech Thee, who alone art good and ready to hear, look down upon me Thy sinful and unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, enable me, who am invested with the grace of priesthood, to stand before this Thy Holy Table, and to administer Thy most pure and sacred Body and Thy precious Blood. For unto Thee I come, to Thee I bow my head, and I beseech Thee: turn not Thy face from me, neither reject me from among Thy servants, but account it meet that these gifts be offered unto Thee by me, Thy sinful and unworthy servant. For Thou art He that offereth and He that is offered, and He who dost receive and art given, O Christ our God, and to Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father, and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
The prayer being finished, the Priest and the Deacon shall say the Cherubic hymn thrice, making a reverence at the end of each repetition.
PRIEST Let us who mystically represent the cherubim and chant the Thriceholy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care.
DEACON That we may receive the King of all, invisibly attended by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Then the Priest taking up the censer and blessing the incense in the usual way, shall cense the Holy Table round about, the prothesis, the Iconostasis and the people saying secretly “O come let us worship, etc” and Psalm 50. On Sundays he shall say the hymn “We have seen the resurrection of Christ” and then Psalm 50 up to the verse “O God Thou wilt not despise”. On entering the sanctuary he shall again cense the Holy table, the prothesis and all the sanctuary and replace the censer in its customary place. Then standing before the Holy Altar, the Priest and the Deacon shall make two lowly reverences saying each to himself: O Saviour, I have sinned before Thee as the Prodigal Son, accept me, O Father, as a penitent, and have mercy upon me, O God. With the voice of the Publican I cry unto Thee, O Christ Saviour. Be gracious unto me, as Thou wast with him, and have mercy upon me, O God. And kissing the antiminsion they shall again make a reverence and turn and bow humbly to the people saying in a low voice: May God forgive them that hate us and them that love us. Then shall they proceed to the offertory table saying as they go: O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and have mercy upon me. And kissing the holy gifts they shall say: O Holy God, the Father eternal, Holy and Strong, the Son co-eternal, Holy and Immortal, the all-holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, glory to Thee. Then the Deacon shall say to the Priest: Lift, Master. And the Priest taking the aer shall first cense it and then lay it on the Deacon’s shoulders saying: Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Then censing his hands he shall take up the paten and set it on the Deacon’s head with all care and reverence. Then the Priest shall himself take up the chalice in his hands saying: God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. And the Deacon leading, they shall go out of the Sanctuary by the north side and make the Great Entrance, preceded by lighted candles and the six-winged fans. And as they shall go round about the nave, the Deacon shall say in a loud voice: May the Lord God remember all of you in his kingdom, always, now and for ever: world without end. The Deacon going in at the Holy Doors stands to the right and as the Priest enters he shall say to him: May the Lord God remember thy priesthood in His Kingdom, always, now and for ever: world without end. And the Priest shall say to him: May the Lord God remember thy sacred ministry in His kingdom always, now and for ever: world without end. The Priest shall then set the holy chalice upon the Altar, and taking the paten from the Deacon’s head he shall place it to the left of the chalice. And removing the veils he shall place them on the one side or the upper part of the Altar, and taking from the Deacon’s shoulders the aer and censing it he shall cover therewith the holy gifts saying: Down from the tree Joseph, a godly man, took Thy most pure body, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, and laid and closed it in a new sepulchre. DEACON: Do good, Master. And taking the censer he shall cense the holy gifts three times saying: Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine alter. And giving back the censer he shall bow his head and say to the Deacon: Remember me, brother and fellow minister. DEACON May the Lord God remember thy priesthood in His Kingdom, always, now and for ever: world without end. And the Deacon bowing his head shall say to the Priest: Pray for me, holy Master. And the Priest blessing the Deacon shall say: The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.
DEACON The same Spirit shall labour with us all the days of our life. Remember me, holy Master.
PRIEST The Lord God remember thee in His kingdom, always, now and for ever: world without end. DEACON: Amen. And kissing the Priest’s right hand he shall stand in his customary place and say the following litany. Let us complete our supplication unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition For the precious gifts here set forth, let us pray unto the Lord. For this holy temple and for them that enter therein with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, let us entreat the Lord. CHOIR: Grant us O Lord. And after each petition For an angel of peace, faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us entreat the Lord. For pardon and remission of our sins and transgression, let us entreat the Lord. For things good and profitable to our souls, and peace for the world, let us entreat the Lord. That we may pass the remainder of our lives in peace and repentance, let us entreat the Lord. For a Christian ending to our life, painless, without shame and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us entreat the Lord. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary; and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Meanwhile the Priest having set the divine gifts upon the Holy Altar, shall say the following prayer. O Lord our God who hast created us and brought us into this life; who hast shewn unto us the way of salvation; who hast granted unto us the revelation of heavenly mysteries: Thou art that hast appointed us unto this ministry, by the power of Thy Holy Spirit. Therefore, O Lord, be well-pleased that we may be servants of Thy New Testament, and ministers of Thy holy sacraments. According to the greatness of Thy mercy do Thou accept us who now draw nigh unto Thy sacred altar, that we may be worthy to offer Thee this reasonable and bloodless sacrifice for our sins and for the errors of the people: which do Thou accept for a sweet-smelling savour upon Thy holy, and most heavenly, and spiritual altar, and send down upon us the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and behold this our worship, which do Thou accept even as Thou didst accept the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the whole burnt offering of Abraham, the sacred priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, the peace offerings of Samuel. Even as Thou didst receive from the holy Apostles this true worship, so also, O Lord, do Thou of Thy goodness accept these gifts at the hands of us sinners: that counted worthy to serve blamelessly before Thy Holy Altar we may obtain the reward of faithful and wise stewards in the fearful day of Thy just recompense. Through the compassions of Thine Only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed; together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. And blessing the people, the Priest shall say: Peace unto all.
DEACON Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess. And while the choir sing “The Father and the Son…” the Priest shall bow himself thrice saying within himself: I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my firm support, and my refuge, and my deliverer. And he shall kiss the holy gifts, they still being covered: first the paten, then the chalice and the edge of the Holy Altar before him. And if there be two priests or more, they likewise shall kiss the holy things and then embrace and kiss each other with the Kiss of Peace; first on the left then on the right and then each other’s right hand. And while they embrace, the Priest first in rank shall say:
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